Side Chick Era Over (Sharon and Carter) novel Chapter 573

Chapter 573

Rick frowned. He’d assumed Sharon would’ve come around by now.

“Sharon, about Cole…” Rick started, but was immediately cut off by a soft cough from Richard.

“Rick,” Richard said gently, “let the past stay in the past. There’s no need to bring it up again.”

He wore the expression of a man with a mild temper. Smiling, he turned to Sharon. “You’ve got your mother’s spirit-proud and stubborn. Come now, don’t just stand there. Sit down.”

Sharon took a seat beside Theo. “Theo, are you alright?”

By now, the fear had faded from Theo’s face. “I’m okay, Mommy. I just thought I ran into bad people again…”

He paused, glancing over at Victoria. “Luckily, Aunt Victoria came back and explained things to me.”

His bright, clear eyes never left Sharon’s face, full of curiosity and hope. “Mommy, are they really my family?”

She wanted to say no. But blood ties weren’t something she could deny just because she wanted to.

She could refuse to go back to the Kalen family. She could even cut ties. But she couldn’t take away Theo’s right to choose.

Sharon didn’t know how to answer. In the end, she stayed silent.

It was Victoria who finally spoke. “Carter, I’m sorry. I should’ve told you about this the last time we met.”

Carter glanced at Sharon, and in that moment, he understood. He now knew why Victoria hadn’t said anything to him before.

“It’s alright,” he said.

After their last meeting, Theo had opened the gift Victoria gave him-something worth millions. Even though money wasn’t an issue for the Kalen family, that kind of gift was more than generous.

Back then, Carter had assumed it was just gratitude for a favor. But now it was clear-she’d wanted to meet Theo.

Richard spoke again.

“Sharon, I admit, taking Theo here without telling you wasn’t exactly the right thing to do. But the fact that I could do it so easily just proves one thing. The Biggs family doesn’t take Theo’s safety seriously enough.”

Then his tone shifted slightly, more pointed. “If the Biggs family can’t care for the child properly, perhaps it’s time to let the Kalen family take over. At the very least, I wouldn’t let an outsider walk off with him so casually.”

Sharon looked directly at Richard. “What exactly are you saying?”

He picked up his tea and took a slow, unhurried sip.

“The Kalen family has the resources and the network-top-tier, by any standard. Birds seek out the tallest branches to nest in. With our support and Theo’s potential, he could become someone truly exceptional”

As he spoke, he pulled out a folder that had clearly been prepared in advance and handed it to her. “This is a gift for Theo. Read it over before making any decisions”

Sharon accepted the folder, her expression shifting slightly as she scanned the contents.

It was a share transfer agreement. Richard was offering five percent of Kalen Group’s shares to Theo.

A considerable gesture, by any measure.

She flipped through page by page, her gaze growing darker as she reached the final section.

There it was the real purpose behind all of it. Custody of Theo would be transferred to the Kalen family and would remain with them until he reached adulthood.

Sharon looked up at Richard, who continued sipping his tea as if nothing had happened.

Neither Rick nor Victoria showed any surprise. They had clearly known about this all along.

Lowering her gaze, Sharon masked the emotion in her eyes and passed the folder to Carter.

The moment he saw it was a share transfer agreement, his hand paused, just slightly.